Blackbird

Paul Kahan won the James Beard Foundation's 2004 award for Best Chef Midwest and the consistently huge crowds at this nicely appointed room know it. The emphasis here is on carefully prepared dishes that are arranged like artpieces, so much so that piercing one with your fork feels like a violation of something sacred. Prada-clad foodies and their Marc Jacobs-draped dates dine on cleverly assembled game, seafood and veggie dishes.